Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1887-08-06
w. c. r. U. COLUMN.
Edited and Com piled by the .Women's
Christian Temperance Union.

~ paw - w
liquor traffic belongs to the depart
ment of crimes, the strong arm of the
law and legal force must be combin-
ed with moral force for its suppress
sion. The State must write in its
constitution, and on its tables of law,
and thunder from its political Sinai,
"Thou shalt not !" Now the State
throws the mantle of responsibility
over the rum-seller it legitimatizes
his calling ; it permits him to walk
streets as the equal of your most re
spected citizen. He opens his door
upon the public avenue, and in the
open day drives his infamous business
by the side of the merchant, the
butcher and the baker. The saloon
power has become defiant and con-
temptuous. 1t sits supreme in the
national Congress. 1t is a governing
power in the courts of justice.
1t makes the ministers of the
law its lackeys. 1t sits by the editor
at his desk, and dictates what he
shall write. 1t tears the teaching of
hygiene and the evil effects of drink
from the school books of our children.
1t fiaunts its contempt in the face of
our noble women, whose voices are
raised all over this land that God
may stay the evil. 1t would destroy
the government of the people, by the
people, for the people, and make it
the government of the saloon, for the
saloon, by the saloon; and then asks
you and me with asneer, What are
you going to do about it?" Let our
answer be full and free, sounding
afar, from pulpit and platform, from
church and caucus, from the prayer
meeting and the ballot-box, that the
agitation will not cease until the
whole liquor business is outlawed by
organic provisions ordained by the
people, and shall cease to be a factor
in our politics and a dishonor
to our Christian civilization! Let us
fling full in the face of the rum power
defiance Of immediate absolute pro-
hibition. The conflict will be sharp,
but from the death grapple truth will
rise unbruised and victorious and the
names of her defenders will be writ
ten in sunbeams over the portals of a
saved nation. All this is to be Sc
cured by the union of all good forces.
In the temperance reform women
are coming to the front. The Wo.
mans Crusade was a burst of agony
that could be endured no longer,
That movement has not died out il
has only changed its form. That i'm
pulse has been transformed into prin'
ciple; that spasm of action, into 9
better organism, instinct with life
tremulous with power, the Nationa
Women's Christian Temperance Tn.
ion.
1t has spread over forty states anC
territories of the land. 1t has already
attained a moral power that attract
the attention of the nation. Modest
ly but bravely, it comes before the
two great political party convention
and asks for legal home protection
Flying like a dove from one convoca
ton to another, in its own eloquen
language, it is at last received int
cold water ark. But it comes will
the olive leaf plucked off, indicatin,
that the deluge of intemperance i
yet to subside.
The time is coming when the pur
things shall live, and the base shall
die, when the side which God take
shall prevail.
When l see the moderate drinke
indulging in his occasional glass, ant
looking down with a contemptuou
smile on the ~fanatical temperate
people, 1 know that he is sailing clos
along the rocks of intemperance, an,
that his only safe curse is to stan
from the danger.
Young woman, never give. you
hand to a young man who drink:
| have seen experiments tried b
young women who meant to reforr
a husband after marriage. Wher
one woman has succeeded, five. hui
dred have persisted in the ruinou
risk. If a young man does not thin
enough of his loved n to give u
the wine-cup before marriage, tie
him you will not allow such a riv;
as rum to risk your own and his ruiz
When l see a young man leavin